Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to develop the SPHE curriculum to ensure it is as inclusive and diverse as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42078/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum is mandatory at primary level and up to junior cycle at post-primary level. Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is embedded within SPHE at Junior Cycle level. A framework for Senior Cycle SPHE is also available to schools.

The SPHE curriculum aims to provide a range of diverse and inclusive skills such as communicating, making decisions, knowing where to find reliable data, belonging and integrating, handling conflict constructively, dealing with bullying, expressing feelings and emotions, substance abuse, resisting peer pressure, personal safety, values and mutual respect.

As the new Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) is rolled out, schools should ensure that the junior cycle programme they design addresses the principles, statements of learning and key skills that relate to the areas currently covered in SPHE. This can be achieved through continuing to provide the existing SPHE course, providing a short course in SPHE or other approaches.

The Framework for Junior Cycle additionally provides for a new area of learning at junior cycle called Wellbeing. Wellbeing will cross the three years of junior cycle and build on substantial work already taking place in schools in support of students’ wellbeing. This area of learning will make the school’s culture and ethos and commitment to wellbeing visible to students. It will include learning opportunities to enhance the physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing of students. It will enable students to build life skills and develop a strong sense of connectedness to their school and to their community. The Junior Cycle Wellbeing programme begins with 300 hours of timetabled engagement in 2017 and will build up to 400 hours by 2020 as the new junior cycle is implemented fully in schools.